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HUNT RACE
Chapter 1: The Night the Hunt Began
The village of Ashvale had always feared the forest after sunset.
The elders spoke of creatures with glowing crimson eyes that prowled beneath the ancient trees. Children were warned never to wander beyond the wooden gates once darkness fell. Hunters returned before dusk, and even the bravest warriors refused to enter the forest at night.
To most people, they were only stories.
To seventeen-year-old Kael, they were nothing more than excuses for cowards.
As the son of a blacksmith, Kael dreamed of becoming a Hunter instead of spending his life forging weapons for other people to wield. Every day he trained alone with a wooden spear, imagining the battles he would one day fight.
"You'll get yourself killed," his father often warned.
Kael always smiled.
"Not before I become the strongest."
That evening, strange clouds swallowed the moon.
A cold wind swept through Ashvale.
Then came the howl.
It wasn't the cry of a wolf.
It was deeper... hungrier.
The village bell rang wildly.
"Monsters!"
Panic spread through the streets.
Before anyone could react, the eastern gate exploded inward.
A gigantic wolf-like beast burst into the village, its black fur soaked with blood and its golden eyes burning with hatred.
Behind it came dozens more.
People screamed.
Homes caught fire.
Hunters rushed forward, but their blades barely scratched the monsters' thick hides.
Kael grabbed the only weapon within reach—his father's unfinished iron spear.
"Stay inside!" his father shouted.
But Kael was already running toward the chaos.
He thrust the spear into a charging beast.
The monster barely flinched.
With one swipe of its claws, Kael was thrown across the street.
Pain shot through his body.
He could only watch as the creatures tore through the village.
Then he saw it.
His father stood between a monster and a frightened child.
Without hesitation, the blacksmith raised his hammer.
The beast lunged.
Blood stained the ground.
"No..."
Kael crawled forward, tears filling his eyes.
The beast turned toward him, its jaws opening wide.
Just before it attacked...
A silver flash cut through the darkness.
The monster's head fell to the ground.
Standing behind it was a warrior clad in black armor, carrying a sword larger than any Kael had ever seen.
More armored hunters appeared from the shadows.
Within minutes, the monsters began to retreat into the forest.
The battle was over.
Ashvale was in ruins.
As dawn broke, Kael knelt beside his father's body.
The mysterious hunter approached him.
"You fought even when you knew you couldn't win."
Kael looked up, his eyes burning with grief.
"I want revenge."
The hunter's expression remained cold.
"Revenge will only get you killed."
He looked down at Kael for a long moment before speaking again.
"Revenge is for the strong."
His voice was calm, but every word struck like a hammer.
"And right now..."
"...you are too weak."
Kael clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms.
The hunter extended his hand.
"If you truly want revenge, don't chase death."
"Become strong enough to make your enemies fear your name."
"Come with me."
Kael looked from the hunter's outstretched hand to the blood-soaked remains of his village.
The flames that consumed Ashvale reflected in his eyes. At that moment, his grief hardened into resolve.
As the first rays of dawn broke over the ruined village, Kael reached out and took the hunter's hand.
He didn't know where the path would lead.
He only knew that he would never be this weak again.
For the first time in his life...
The Hunt had chosen him.